Flexible flat-metal floor-mat.



No. 737,574. PATENTED SEPT. 1, 1903.

A. S. BURNELL.` FLEXIBLE PLAAT METAL FLOOR MAT.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 28, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

@Al/Agfa Patented September 1, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR S. BURNELL, OF MARSHALLTOWN, IOl/VA.

FLEXIBLE FLAT-METAL FLOOR-MAT.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 737,574, dated September 1, 1903.

Application iled January 28, 1902. Serial Nou 91,646 (No model To all whom t may concern,.-

Be it known that I, ARTHUR S. BUENELL, residing in the city of Marshalltown, in the county of Marshall and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mats, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention relates more particularly to mats formed of strips of metal iiexibly connected together.

It has heretofore been common to construct metal mats of transverse sections pivotally connected together by transverse pivot rods or bars, which render the mat fiexible longitudinally. In practice it has been found that the marginal portions have a tendency to bend upwardly or become warped as a result of the continuons lateral impact from the heels of boots or shoes. Furthermore, in cleaning such mats the mat is frequently grasped at one edge or corner thereof, and as a result the mat becomes warped or out of transverse alinement, and'thus causes portions of the mat to be raised above the floor when the mat is in use and so the portions of the mat will receive the impact of boots and shoes, which rendersthe mat quite uneven and unsatisfactory in use. 4

The present invention designs to overcome these objections to mats as heretofore constructed and to provide a mat which is flexible along a longitudinal line or lines, so that if the marginal portion of the mat is lifted upwardly it will readjust itself to the floor and render the marginal portions sufficiently yielding to cushion the impact thereagainst of boots or shoes.

The invention also designs to provide an improved clip formed of fiat metal in which the abutting faces of adjacent strips are rigidly secured to each other.

Another object of the invention is t0 improve the construction of mats composed of a series of short flat metal strips having portions between their ends bent laterally. In the use of such strips it has been found that lateral impact tends to Hatten or expand the strips in longitudinal direction. To render such strips inexpansible, it has been proposed to employ straight ymarginal links forming a border for the mat. When, however, the

straight links are used to form the side strips or margins, they frequently become bent and cause the transverse pivot-rods to also become bent.

With this object in view the invention provides a construction in which the inexpansble strips are protected from lateral impact and are so arranged that there is little or no danger of becoming bent.

The invention further designs to provide an improved end strip for mats.

The invention consists -in the several novel features of construction hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawings, Figure l is a plan view of a portion of an end strip. Fig. 2 is a section of an end portion of a mat. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of a mat. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view showing the clips which yieldingly connect the parts of a section. Fig. 5 is a plan view of a mat embodying the preferred form of the invention.

The mat is formed of a plurality of transverse sections, each of which comprises a plurality of short strips of flat metal b, having straight alined terminals b' and a central portion bent laterally, as at b2. The strips are alternately arranged to form meshes and so the laterally-bent central portions b2 will be contiguous and abut against each other. Through the overlapping terminals b' of the strips of adjacent sections extend transverse pivot-rods c, whereby the sections are connected together to permit the sections of the mat to be rolled or folded around each other and so the mat will be substantially indexible transversely. The ends of rod c are provided with suitable heads e', whereby the strips are transversely positioned on the rods. Rods c are formed of wire, and heads c are preferably formed by looping the rod-terminal. The marginal strips b3 form a side border, and their central portions project laterally a sufficient extent to protect the heads c of Vthe pivot-rods from breakage. Adjacent the marginal strips of each section a straight link d is arranged, and the pivot-rods c extend through the overlapping terminals of longitudinally-adjacent links. Strips having portions intermediate the terminals bent laterally tend to expand slightly when sub- IOO jected to lateral strains or pressure. To overcome the possibility of stretching or straigthening the marginal strips b3, the straight links d are arranged in close proximity and inside of the border to protect the straight links from the strains and impact to which the border is subjected and which tends to bend the links and draw the pivot-rods toward each other. These straight links when located adjacent the border are protected from the severe strain to which the border is subjected and secure the marginal strips b3 against all danger of becoming flattened or,

bent Vand secure the rods against displacement. Straight links d may also be located in the body of the mat at desired intervals.

To render the mat flexible along a longitudinal line or lines, each transverse section is formed of a plurality of portions connected together by a clip e, comprising two strips of metal, each of which has straight alinedterminals and a portion between the terminals bent laterally and there formed with a straight surface e', abutting against the corresponding surface of the other strip and secured together by a rivetf, which secures the strips together. The strips of each clip e are respectively connected with the transverse pivot-rods lof each portion of a transverse section. The pivot-rods extend through the perforated terminalsof each strip of clip e and are secured on said rods by heads c', formed on said rods and adjacent to the inner faces and between the terminals of the strips of a clip e. The clips are formed of strips of thin metal, which have only a slight and loose bearing on the cross-rods, and therefore the clips connect the parts of a section and permit limited vertical exure of one portion of a section with respect to another. Pivotrods c extend through only the overlapped terminals of adjacent portions of the sections and connect contiguous portions of adjoining transverse sections--that is, independent rods extend through the several portions to permit iiexure of the mat on a longitudinal line or lines between the several portions of the transverse sections. The portions of each transverse section are connected ktogether by a series of clips e, longitudinally alined. These clips have independent connections with transversely-adjacent portions of a section and have their central portions riveted together and provide a joint between the portions of the transverse sections which permits limited flexure of the mat on a longitudinal line or lines and which does not interfere with the rolling or folding of the mat. As a result of this construction the mat is flexible on a longitudinal line, so that the marginal portions of the mat when subjected to severe strain can yield along'a longitudinal line instead of straining or bending the strips and rods. Furthermore, the marginal portion being somewhat flexible on a longitudinal line will readily adjust itself 'to a floor, and thus provide a uniform support for the several strips, so the mat will present a substantially even surface and will not become bent or warped on account of the strains resulting from impact against the mat by reason of its unevenness.

End pieces a are formed of a straightpiece of malleable metal having a groove a in its inner edge and extending from end to end thereof and having intersecting transverse slots a2, which retain and form seats for the terminals of the strips of an end section of a mat. Groove ais adapted to hold a transverse rod c4, which extends longitudinally therethrough and through the strip-terminals of the end section. Rods cL are secured in groove a by pressing together the upper and lower edge portions fadjacent the groove, as shown in Fig. 3, and advantageously connect the rigid end strips with the end section of the mat. The end pieces a are formed of strips corresponding in length to the portions of the transverse sections to permit flexure of the mat along the line of clips c and which may be provided at desired intervals, according to the width of the mat.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the precise form shown and described, but may be varied without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. In a metal mat, the combination with a series of sections liexibly connected, of an end strip formed of a strip of metal having a groove in its inner edge and extending from end to end and transverse slots intersecting said groove, and means connecting the strip and one of the se'ctions.

2. In a metal mat, the combination with an end strip formed of metal and having a 1ongitudinal groove in its tinner edge extending from end to end and a plurality of transverse slots intersecting the longitudinal groove, of aplurality of fiat strips of metal having their terminals perforated and having their outer perforated ends inserted in the transverse slots of the end strip and a wire extended through the longitudinal groove and the terminals of the strips in the slots, the longitudinal slot being contracted at its inner edge to retain the rod.

3. A mat consisting of aplurality of transverse sections flexibly connected, the sections being formed of rigid portions and a yielding connection between the portions of a section, whereby the mat will be rendered limitedly liexible along a longitudinal line.

4. A mat consisting of a plurality of sections, said sections consisting of rigid portions, transverse pivot-rods flexibly connecting the sections, the rigid portions of the Sections being formed of lat strip metal, and.- a yielding connection between the portions of a section whereby the mat will be rendered limitedly iiexible along a longitudinal line.

5. A mat consisting of a plurality of sec- IOO IIO

tions, said sections consisting ot' rigid portions, the rigid portions of the sections being formed of dat strip metal and separate transverse pivot-rods connecting each portion of a section with the corresponding portion of the next section, and a connection between the portions of a section, whereby the mat will be rendered limitedly iiexible along a longitudinal line.

6. A mat consisting of a plurality of sections formed of iiat strip metal, said sections being formed of a plurality of rigid portions, separate transverse pivot rods extending through the strips of adjacent sections and a clip forming a connection between the portions of a section and connected with the pivot-rods of the portions of a section.

7. A mat consisting-of a plurality of sections formed of tlat strip metal, said sections being formed of a plurality of rigid portions,

separate transverse pivot-rods extending.

through the strips of adjacent sections and a connection between the portions of a section, and comprising strips respectively connected with the portions ot' a section, and secured to each other.

8. In a mat formed of sections the combination of a plurality of flat metal strips and transverse pivots connecting the strips, said strips extending longitudinally between said pivots and being bent laterally between their ends, and rigidly secured to one of the transversely-adjacent strips.

9. In a mat formed of sections the combination ot' a plurality of flat metal strips and transverse pivots connecting the strips, said strips extending longitudinallybetween said pivots and being bent laterally between their ends and rivets extended through the laterally-bent portions of transversely-adjacent strips.

l0. A mat comprising a plurality of strips of fiat metal having their ends perforated and connected with longitudinally-adjacent strips, by transverse pivot-rods, and having their straight terminals perforated and having portions between the straight terminals bent laterally, a side border formed of said strips and straight links adjacent said border and having perforations in their terminals through which the rods extend,said links being within the side border of the mat and between said strips.

ARTHUR S. BURNELL.

Vitnessesi G. W. GILBERT, B. H. HoURG. 

